Ferrari built a one-of-a-kind car for a wealthy customer

Ferrari has announced a one-off custom version of its 458 Speciale – the ultimate and final version of the highly-successful 458 line – built to the specifications of a wealthy British client.

The “458 MM Speciale” was designed by Ferrari’s own in-house design team, and nods at the classic Ferrari 288 GTO of the 1980’s, copying the blacked-out A-pillars on either side of the windshield to create what the client called “a visor effect.”

The car also includes a heavily-redesigned, rounder nose and air intakes just before the rear wheels, a feature it shares with the production 458’s replacement – the 488 GTB.

While the 488’s intakes ducts are a necessity of the new car’s air-thirsty turbocharged V8 engine, the 458 Speciale was normally aspirated. Ferrari claim more air is needed to cool the notoriously-hot running engine because of a “different rake of the rear.”

By which they may rightly mean “we thought they look neat.”

The character line which extends from the intakes and forward around the car’s nose may also be a subtle hint at the deep, wrap-around black character line which was a defining feaure of just about every single Ferrari model of the eighties.

The 458 MM Speciale also includes a redesigned rear spoiler and a custom sound system, interior, and special wheels.

Ferrari is not new to making one-off cars for its best clients. Other famous examples include a recent $4.7 million salute to the 1980’s Berlinetta Boxer built specially for guitar legend Sir Eric Clapton and a fleet of four door 456s for the Sultan of Brunei.

The car looks meaner and lower than the car on which it is based …

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Ferrari

… the 458 Speciale, a 597 horsepower V8 powered track-crushing supercar with some very nice stripes.

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Ferrari

Besides the 288 GTO styling nod, the 458 MM Speciale also salutes Ferrari’s success at the infamous Mille Miglia, a 1,000 mile sprint though the Italian countryside that has long been banned for being far too dangerous.

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Ferrari

Custom built cars are not a new concept for Ferrari. Provided they are willing to write a big enough check, Ferrari will likely build a client anything they want. This is the Sp12 EC. As in Eric Clapton. It cost $4.7 million.

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Ferrari

The 458 MM Speciale’s new owner likely paid a hefty price for what is now undoubtedly the jewel of their collection — a Ferrari built just for them.